GOP Needs More Partisans Like Schumer
The very year that Charles Schumer, current chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) graduated from Harvard Law School, he was elected to the New York Assembly. And since then, New York’s Senior Senator has always served in elective office. Indeed, he has never had a job outside politics.
And while Elizabeth Dole, his counterpart at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), has enjoyed a lifetime in government service, it wasn’t until she was well into her 60s that she first ran for public office. To be sure, soon after she married Bob Dole, then-President Gerald Ford tapped the Kansas Senator as his running mate in the 1976 election. Twenty years later, her husband would be the GOP presidential nominee. And while Mrs. Dole, more so than many candidate’s wives, relished campaigning, she never really delighted as much in the rough and tumble of politics as does Schumer.
It’s no wonder the DSCC has outraised the NRSC this year. Schumer, a fierce partisan, really wants to win whereas Dole, not nearly as adversarial as he, just seems to want it to appear she’s doing a good job. Schumer succeeded in recruiting candidates who are giving Republicans runs for their money — even in “red” states. Dole failed to recruit serious challengers for liberal Democrats in such Republican states as North Dakota and Florida, the latter with a not very popular incumbent, far to the left of his constituents.
It is a sign of Republican strength that despite Mrs. Dole’s failures, the GOP has a better-than-even shot of holding the Senate. Yet, had Senate Republicans tapped a more aggressive partisan to match Schumer’s intensity, not only would the GOP be sure of holding the Senate, but even stand a shot of picking up seats, given the vulnerable Democratic seats in Michigan, Minnesota as well as Florida and North Dakota.
It’s not just fundraising and candidate recruitment where Schumer beat Dole. He has shown a similar fire in the belly in public appearances, easily besting his North Carolina colleague last week in a debate on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.
I’m no fan of Chuck Schumer, but do appreciate his energy and his drive. He really wants to win. Republicans will need such partisans if we are to hold the slender majorities we enjoy after this fall’s elections — or win them back should our candidates not be able to overcome the dynamics of the year.
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I give you credit — you’re an optimist (“hold our slender majorities”).
Comment by Eddie Graziano — November 3, 2006 @ 6:55 pm - November 3, 2006
More partisanship? I don’t think so. What you really need in the GOP is an idealogical reboot.
While I may tease the guys that everything that comes out of Gay Patriot is a press release from Karl Rove, the truth is that the conservative ideas expressed on this blog rarely match what is coming out of the GOP. That problem needs to be addressed first. Otherwise no amount of aggressive partisan politicking will work, because it just won’t any have ideas worth selling.
Comment by Patrick (Gryph) — November 3, 2006 @ 7:25 pm - November 3, 2006
Notice how when a Democrat or someone in the media (but I repeat myself) says “bi-partisanship,” what they really mean is, ‘conservatives caving into liberals?’”
e.g. the “bi-partisan” illegal alien amnesty bill,
Comment by V the K — November 3, 2006 @ 10:09 pm - November 3, 2006
#3. Human beings are aliens, huh? What would Jesus think?
Comment by jimmy — November 3, 2006 @ 10:56 pm - November 3, 2006
e.g. the “bi-partisan” illegal alien amnesty bill
I have to be honest with you, I don’t have any problem with granting amnesty to anyone who came here peacefully and honestly, who is making a living here and being productive. I don’t consider it a crime for someone to have crossed a river or imaginary line, as long as he’s coming here to work and make a better life for himself. I welcome people like that with open arms, and I don’t think they’ve broken any law that I would consider valid.
I know this is one of the reasons why you think I’m a silly libertarian, but I stick by it.
Don’t give them “entitlements” or public benefits, but don’t throw them out if they’re here to be productive people. No crime in that.
Comment by kdogg36 — November 3, 2006 @ 11:59 pm - November 3, 2006
Agreed that Dole was no match for Schumer but it’s not simply because he’s a better at commanding the troops. One thing you guys just don’t seem to get is that the majority of the American public has gotten very weary of this Republican Party’s slogan’s without substance.
That gay ‘conservatives’ like you and other people on this site continue to support a party who you are pariah to is far more ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ than I could ever find words for.
And good luck for the next 2 years while sensible people in your party duke it out with the Christian Right and destroy the Grand Coalition that you’ve worked so hard to build over the last 20 years. I’ll be watching with delight.
Comment by tonto_cal — November 4, 2006 @ 12:09 am - November 4, 2006
#3. Human beings are aliens, huh? What would Jesus think?
They are if you are a Guatemalan trying to enter Mexico.
Comment by Frank IBC — November 4, 2006 @ 2:05 am - November 4, 2006
“It is a sign of Republican strength that despite Mrs. Dole’s failures, the GOP has a better-than-even shot of
holding the Senatelosing only five incumbent seats rather than six.”That’s an interesting concept of “strength”.
Comment by m.croche — November 4, 2006 @ 10:36 am - November 4, 2006
#7: I believe Jesus counseled people to obey the law, but it’s always interesting when a Christophobe tries to play the Jesus card.
Comment by V the K — November 4, 2006 @ 11:05 am - November 4, 2006
Just a thought on the illegal immigration issue (if it’s not too far afield from the topic) …
There are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here in the U.S.
In all U.S. prisons, state prisons, and jails there are approximately 8-10 million people in total being held, of which 30% are documented to be illegal immigrants who are locked up for something OTHER than being here illegally (i.e. – crimes & misdemeanors). That means there are between 2.4 million and 3.0 million illegal immigrants here who are CRIMINALS … between 20-25% of ALL illegal immigrants. Now THAT’s a problem!
Comment by GOPValues — November 4, 2006 @ 1:09 pm - November 4, 2006
I agree totally with Gay Patriot. Liddy Dole was on last week opposite Schumer and she was pathetic. Her lackluster and robotic replies were no match for Chuck. Why, oh why, when we are in the majority, do we keep begging to be relieved of it? Thanks to lightweights like Liddy Dole and Bill Frist they may give us that real chance to show what losers we can be sometimes.
Comment by benj — November 4, 2006 @ 1:43 pm - November 4, 2006
santorum has that kind of fire. unfortunately he’s stuck with Bush who’s policies are easy to run against to put it charitably. particularly in a not exactly bright red state
Comment by lester — November 4, 2006 @ 1:47 pm - November 4, 2006
As I watch the likes of Liddey Dole and Frist I do miss the fire of Newt Gingrich. He can filet any liberal in a long debate. Actually Santorum might be an excellent choice for party chairman except Mellman has done a great job in a hellatious year. We need a conservative voice and one who believes in the values of the right. Not Republican moderates. They can come along for the ride.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — November 5, 2006 @ 9:49 pm - November 5, 2006
Well said, Gene, about having a leader with fire of Newt. I would, however, be wary of Santorum as party chair for a great variety of reasons, notably the number of missteps his campaign has made.
Comment by GayPatriotWest — November 6, 2006 @ 12:11 pm - November 6, 2006